Bark-removing machine.



H. L. DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1113.15, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H.L.DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. L. DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1911.

1,017,655. Patented Feb. 20, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. L. DRAKE.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.15, 1911.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETB-SHEET 4.

H. L. DRAKE.

I BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIONVFILED FEB.15, 1911. I 1,017,655 Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. HERBERT L. DRAKE, Em'EDEoan, WISCONSIN, Essmnon or roan-Elva. onEe HUNDREDTHS 'ro GEO GE E.FOSTER, or MELLEN, WI SCONSIN.

BARK-REMOVING MACHINE.

' vention are to provide a machine capable of accommodating logs ofvarious sizes; to provide a machine in which the logs are givensimultaneous bodily longitudinal movement and axial rotary motion, sothat any point on the log describes a helix during such movements of thelog; to provide one or more bark'removing units, each comprising a knifeblade adapted to be set at an angle with reference to the log axis,which is greater than the angle of pitch of the helical path of a pointon the periphery of the log, whereby the bark is out along a helicalline and at the same time forced loose from the log; to providemechanism for removing the outer rough part of the bark before the innerpart of the bark is subjected to the diagonal knives; to provide foradditional mechanism for finally cleaning the log of any particles ofbark which might cling thereto after the cutting operation; to provide aplurality of bark removing units operable simultaneously on a log toremove the bark from a log of a great many feet in length during thetime that the log travels longitudinally only a few feet; and in generalto provide a very simple and durable machine which will more effectivelyremove the bark from logs and in much less time than has been possibleheretofore.

T he nature of the invention will be understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevational View, Fig. 2 is a planview looking from plane 22, Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an elevational view of thedriving end of the machine, Fig. at is an elevational view of theopposite end ,of the machine, Fig. .5 is a plan view of a scraping chainlink, Fig. 6

is a side elevation of a section of the chain, one of the llnks being incross-section, look- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2011912.

Application filed February 15, 1911. Serial No. 608,654.

ing from plane- 66, Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a log,showing the position of a cutting knife with reference thereto. 7

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a carriage'or truck 10mounted on wheels 11 engaging the rails 12 of a track, the truck beingadapted to reciprocate back and forth on said track. At one side thistruck mounts bearing standards 13 which journal a shaft 14 carryingsupporting wheels 15, a wheel being at each end of the truck. Atitsopposite side the truck supports sets of bearing standards 16 and 16which journal a shaft 17 which between the standards 16 and 16 of eachset carries a spur wheel 18. The spur wheels have key and slotconnection with the shaft, so that the wheels are confined to rotatewith the shaft but may have longitudinal movement with referencethereto. One of the spur wheels 18 is opposite each of the .supportingwheels 15, and these supporting wheels and spur wheels form between thema trough for receiving a log to be treated, as best illustrated in Figs;3 and fi- The-shaft 17 being rotated, the teeth or spurs 18 on spurwheels 18 engage with the log and cause rotation thereof. Adjacent oneend of the'track a stationary frame 19 is provided, whose rear section19 extends up wardly and terminates in a bearing box 20 for journalingone end of the main drive shaft 21, the'opposite end of this shaft beingjournaled at the top of the bearing standard 22 arranged adjacent theopposi'te end of the track. The shaft 17 before mentioned is below andin front of the shaft 21, and its left end journals on the frame 19,while its rightend journals in the standard 23 at the right end of thetrack. Adjacent the inside of the frame 19 shafts 21 and 17 carry gears24 and 25 respectively which mesh with each other. Adjacent the outsideof the frame 19 the main shaft 21 carries the driving pulle'y 26 whichmay be con-' 32 extending in a plane substantially mid- 11o box 33supported on frame 19 a short shaft 34 is 'ournaled. This shaft at itsinner end and its right end is connected with the screw shaft 32 byuniversal coupling 35 of any suitable construction. The left end of theshaft 34 terminates in a bevel friction pinion 36 which is adapted forengagement with either one of the friction beveled guide gears 37 and 38journaled on the sleeve 39 mounted on shaft 29.

Secured to the ou'tside of the frame 19 is the bracket 40 whose verticalend 41 has the horizontal lugs 42 between which is pivoted at its elbowthe bell crank adjusting lever 43. The inner end of this lever forksover the sleeve 39, while the outer end of the-lever is pivoted to ascrew 44 which threads in a sleeve 45 journaled in the bearing extension46 on bracket 40, the sleeve having a hand wheel 47. Upon turning of thehand wheel the bell crank lever will be swung correspondingly to causeshifting of the sleeve '39 and driving connection with the pinion 36 ofeither driving gear 37 or driving gear 38. the direction of rotation ofthe screw shaft 32being thus adjustable. The screw shaft 32 threadingthrough a lug or a nut 48 secured to the carriage 1.0 the carriage withthe log supported thereon maybe moved in either direction on the track.As the carriage is moved over its track by the rotation .of the screwshaft 32 the spur wheels 18 rotating with shaft 17 will cause rotationof a log L supported on the spur wheels and the wheels 15.

In order to accommodate the supporting wheels for logs of differentdiameters the bearing standards of shaft.14 are adjustable. As shown inFigs. 1 and 4, each standard frame 13 has rack teeth 49 along its base,the rack teeth engaging with pinions 50 mounted on a shaft 51controlledby a hand wheel 52. Upon rotation. of the hand wheel and shaft51 the bearing frames 13 may be shifted toward or away from the bearingstandards of the shaft 17 so as. to decrease or increase the size of thetrough between the wheels 15 and 18 for accommodating the logs.

On both the carriage and the log supported thereon is mounted themechanism for removing the bark from the log. This mechanism consists ofone or more sets, each comprising transverse scraping and helicalcutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism of each set comprises a blade53 carried at the front end of a frame 54 which is pivoted at its rearend to the shaft 21. Each frame comprises blocks 55 pivoted to the shaft21, and from which extend the bars 56 which terminate at their frontendin a head 57. As best shown in Fig. 7, each whose rear end extends athreaded stud s, and which at its front end has the hole k. A bolt 58straddles over the front endof the blade, and the pin59 passestherethrough and through the hole 72., the bolt passing upwardly throughthe head and secured by a nut 60, the blade being thus pivoted to thehead 57.

Extending between the side-bars 57 and secured thereto at anintermediate point is the cross piece 61 having a slot 62 through whichextends the stud s of the blade to be engaged by the nut 63. Theangularity of the knife with reference to the axis of the log can thusbe regulated by" swinging the blade about its front pivot and securingit in pivot position by tightening of the nut 63. During cuttingoperation the blade rests on the log, as indicated in Fig. 7, the sharpedge of the blade cutting and penetrating the bark along a helical line.

plained, has combined bodilygmovement and axial rotary movement, and anypoint on the log will therefore describe a helix. The

. l l v V 7 by knife comprises a blade 6 from the top of The log on thecarrier, as has been ex-- angle of pitch of this imaginary helixispreferably less than the angle at which the blade is set. With thisarrangement not only will the bark be cut by the blade along a helicalline, but the blade will act like a plow to exert lateral pressureagainst the helical band out from the bark, so that this helical band isloosened from and deflected away from the log body. This operation isplainly indicated in Fig. 7. If the angle of the knife were the same asthe angle of pitch of the helical path of a point on the periphery ofthe log the knife edge would merely score and cut through the bark alonga helical line, but the bark will still cling to the log. However, byhaving the blade angle greater than the pitch angle the effect will bethe same as though the log were given longitudinal movementsimultaneously with the helical cutting of the bark thereof, and thebark will be forced and directed away from the log. The depth of the cutis of course gaged by the weight on each knife supporting frame, and ifthe frame is not heavy enough it can be sulficiently weighted.

It is desirable to separate the rough scaly outer ross part of the barkand the inner or rind part thereof, the outer part belng usefulparticularly for tanning purposes, and the inner part being usefulparticularly for the manufacture of paper. The bark can also be cut morereadily by the blades if the outer harder part thereof is first removed.Accordingly I provide scraper mechanism in advance of the blade of eachbark removing set. As indicated best in- Figs. 2 and 4, this scrapingmechanism comprises side plates 65 pivoted attheir front ends to theshaft 21, rods 66 extending forwardly from these side plates andconnected together at their front ends by a head 67. On the front endsof the side bars 66 are the blocks 68 which support and pivot betweenthem a sprocket w chain 70.

Extendin through and journaled in the rear ends 0 the side plate 65' isthe shaft 71 extending parallel to shaft 21, and on this shaft betweenthe side plates is secured the sprocket wheel 72 over which the scraperchain 70 passes. At the left end of the shaft eel 69 for mounting thescraper 71 is secured a gear 73 which meshes with the gear 74 secured toshaft 21, so that upon driving of shaft 21 shaft 71 is rotated and thescraper chain 70 driven. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, links of the chain70 are provided with scraping points or blades, and a preferableconstruction of the .chain links is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each link mis substantially in the form of a rectangular frame having the opening75, the front end 76 being bent to form a hook and the rear end 77 beingcylindrical to receive the hook of the next link. At a central point theframe has a transverse groove 78 for receiving a scraping device 79. Asshown, this scraping device is in the form of a triangular block withsharp edges, the central section of each block being reduced or cutaway,

so that the travel of the chain links over the teeth of the sprocketwheels is not interfered .with. However, the outer sections 0 and 0'present cutting edges, and as the chain travels over thelog in advanceof the knife blade therough outer part of the bark is removed and theinner bark left of more or less uniform thickness to be then morereadily cut and removed by the angularlydisposed blade. If one cuttingend of a block 79 is dulled or chipped the block can be adjusted in itsslot 78 to present a sharp edge, a set screw 80 serving to lock theblock rigidly in position to thelink. It may happen that even afterpreliminary-scrap ing of the bark and then helical cutting thereof bythe blade some of the bark will still remain on'the log, and it may bedesirable to have second scraping apparatus. In the drawings thisadditional scraping apparatus is designated as a whole 81 and is ofsubstantially the same construction as the scraping apparatus alreadydescribed, except that it is at the opposite side of the blade, and anybark which may still remain on the log will be cleaned therefrom. Thedriving sprocket wheel 72 of this additional scraping mechanism issecured to the shaft 71 which extends along the length of the bark andsupports the driving sprocket wheels of all the other bark removing setsif more than one set is used. As shown in the drawings, two barkremoving sets are used, although any number-could be provided, thepurpose being to shorten thetiine of cutting on a log, and in practice abark removing set might be placed every four or five feet, so thatinstead of moving the log a great distance to one bark removing set itwould be necessary. only to remove the log a very short distance] Thesurface of a log is usuall more or less uneven, but the various kni esupporting frames and scraping chain supporting frames being pivoted atthe rear ends and free to swing up and down the knives and scrapingchains are free to follow the various irregularities of the log to thusthor' oughly and cleanly remove the bark.

In order that the knife and chain support ing frames may be swungupwardly at any time, particularly when a finished log is to be removedand a fresh log inserted, suitable hoisting mechanism is provided. Asbest shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a line shaft 83 is journaled at its endsin bearing hangers 84, and this shaft carries a sleeve 85 mounting drums86, one drum for each bark removing set. From the front ends of theknlfe supporting frame, and the scraper chain supporting frames cords 87extend up wardly and wind about the corresponding drum, as indicated, sothat upon turning of the sleeve and the drums thereon the variouspivoted frames of the bark removing mechanisms will be raised. Shaft 83at its left end carries a sprocket wheel 88, and the main driving shaft21 carries a sprocket wheel 89, a chain 90 ,passing over these wheels sothat the shaft 83 is rotated when the main shaft21 is driven. At theleft end of the sleeve 85 is secured a clutch member 91 and adjacentthereto and slidable on shaft 83 by means of a lever 92 is the companionclutch member 93. If the bark removing mechanisms are down and it isdesired to raise them lever 92 is actuated to connect together theclutch members, and sleeve 85 and the drums thereon will be rotated andthe-bark removing sets raised. If they have been raised a sufficientdistance the sleeve 85 may be locked by means of friction brakemechanism comprising a brake member 94 secured to the sleeve and acompanion friction block 95 slidable on the sleeve by means of a lever96. After the bark removing mechanism sets have been a finished log canbe removed and the carriage returned empty to the front of the machine.However, if desired a log'can also be treated on the machine during itsreturn movement,

the finished log being removed after the forward trip of the carriage, afresh log then applied, and the blades 53 adjustedto the proper an lewith reference to the log, the screw sha t 32 bein then set for reversemovement. By turning of the hand wheel .47 the carrier will bereturnedto the other Furthermore, the rough exterior part of the bark is firstseparated and removed from the inner part of the bark before this innerpart is cut, and any bark remaining on the log after the cuttingoperation is cleaned therefrom. This is a decided advantage over theprior machines and methods, in which the entire bark was removed, and itwas necessary to then separate the inner and outer parts thereof.Furthermore, there was no regularity in size of the removed bark pieces,whereas in my machine the bark when engaged by the angular knives willbe broken up into pieces of substantially uniform size. In my machinealso there are no dead periods, as logs can be treated during bothforward and reverse movements of the carrier, and furthermore a greatmany feet in length need be carried only a few feet to have its entirebark removed, and the outside and inside parts of the bark at the sametime removed and separated.

I do not of course desire to be limited to the precise construction,arrangement and operation described, as changes and modifications are ofcourse possible which would stilil come within the scope of myinvention, an

I therefore claim the following:

1. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for causing-a logto move bodily longitudinally and to rotate simultaneously about itslongitudinal axis whereby any ,point on the perlphery of the log willgenerate a helix, and a knife held against the bark of the log to cutsaid bark along a helical line upon such movement of the log, thecutting edge of said knife being at an angle with reference to the logaxis which is greater than the pitch angle of the helical movement ofpoints on said log whereby the bark, after being cut, is moved laterallywith reference to the log and thereby loosened from the log.

2. In a de-barking machine, the combination of'means for giving a logsimultaneous bodily longitudinal movement and rotary movement about itslongitudinal axis, and a knife having its cutting edge extendingtransversely across the log in engagement with the bark thereon and atan angle with the. logaxis whereby the bark is cut and removed in theform of a. helical band.

3. In a de-barkingmachine; the combination of means for giving a logsimultaneous bodily longitudinal movement and rotary movement about .itslongitudinal axis, and a knife having its cutting edge ext-endingtransversely across the log in engagement with the'bark thereon and atan angle varyingwith the pitch of the movement of the log whereby thebark is out and removed in theform of a helical band, and means foroperating in advance of said knife to remove the rough outer part of thebark.

4. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a logcombined bodily longitudinal movement and rotary movement about itslongitudinal axis, means operating to remove the rough outer layers ofthe bark, and cutting mechanism applied to the inner layers of the barkto cut a dividing line through saidinner layers and helically around'thelog during movement of the log. i

5. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a logcombined bodily longitudinal and rotary movement about its. longitudinalaxis whereby any point on the periphery of the log will generate a helixduring movements of the log,

means operating to remove the rough outer layers of the bark, a knifeblade applied to the inner layers of the bark and having its cuttingedge at an angle with the longitudinal axis of the log, which angle isgreater than the pitch angle of the helix generated by a point on thelog periphery whereby said inner layers of the bark are out along ahelical line and the severed sections moved with reference to the log tobecome loosened and peeled therefrom in the form of a helical band.

6. In a de-barking machine, the combina tion of a carriage adapted to bemoved back and forth over a fixed path, means on said carriage forreceiving a log and for causing rotary movement thereof about itslongitudinal axis during bodily travel of said leg with said carriagewhereby any point on the log periphery generates a helix, porting framemounted adjacent the path of said log, and a knife blade on said frameadapted to engage with the bark on said log to cut a dividing linearound said log alllld lthrough said bark during movements of t e 0g.

7. In a de-barking machine, the combination of a carriage adapted to bemoved back and forth over a' fixed path, means on said carriage forreceiving a log and for causing rotary movement thereof about itslongitudinal axis during bodily travel of said leg with said carriagewhereby any point a knife sup- 8 In a de-barking machine, the combina-stion of a carriage adapted to be moved back and forth over a fixed path,means on said carriage for receiving a log and for caus ing rotarymovement thereof about its longitudinal axis during bodily travel ofsaid log with said carriage. whereby any oint on the log peripherygenerates a helix, a knife supporting frame mounted adjacent the path ofsaid log, a 'knife blade on said frame adapted to engage with the barkon said log to cut a dividing line around said log and through said barkduring movements of the log, and scraping mechanism mounted adjacent thepath of the log and in advance of the blade for scraping off the roughouter-layers of the bark whereby said blade will act only on the innerlayers.

9. In a de-barking machine, the combination of a carriage adapted to bereciprocated over a fixed path, means on said carriage for sup orting alog and for causing rotation of t e log about its longitudinal axisdurinbodily travel thereof with said carriage w ereby any point on the logperiphery will generate a helix, a frame pivoted at one end adjacent thepath of said log, a knife bar supported at the free end of sa d frame,and means for swinging said frame to carry the knife away from and intoengagement with the periphery of said log, said knife when in engagementwith the log cutting adividing line helically around said 10 and throughthe bark-thereof during the elical movement of said log.

10. In a de-barking machine, the combination of a carriage adapted to bereciprocated over a fixed path, means on said carriage for sup orting alog and for causing rotation of t e log about its longitudinal axisdurin bodily travel thereof with said carriage'w ereby any point on thelog periphery will generate a helix, a frame pivoted at one end adjacentthe path of said log, a knife bar supported at the free end of saidframe, means for swinging said frame to carry the knife away from andinto engagement with the periphery of said log, said knife when inengagement with the log cutting a dividing line helically around saidlog and through the bark thereof during the helical movement of saidlog, a second frame pivoted at its rear end adjacent the'path of thelog, a chain mounted on said second frame, means for driving said chain,and means for raising and lowering said second frame to carry the chainaway from the log or in engagement with the bark thereon, links of saidchain having scraping points for scraping off the rough outer portionsof the bark and engagement of the chain therewith, said chain acting inadvance of the cutting blade.

11. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a logcombined longitudinal bodily movement and rotary movement aboutitslongitudinal axis, and

stationary bark removing sets mounted adjacent the path of said log,each set comprising scraping mechanism for removing the rough outerportions oft-he bark and a cutting blade for cutting helically aroundthe log and through the inner portions of the bar.

12. In a de-barking machine, the combination of means for giving a logcombined longitudinal bodily movement and rotary knife supportingstructure pivoted at one end, and-a knife blade supported at the freeend of said structure transversely of the log with its cutting edge inengagement therewith to follow the irregularities of the log, said knifeedge having an angle with reference to the log axis which is difi'erentHERBERT L. DRAKE. Witnesses H. A. Maomzn, VINCENT A. Hmscn.

movement about its longitudinal axis, a I

